Stealth Electric Bikes co-founder John Karambalis and Cohuna farmer Bayden Smith introduced Elmore Field Days punters to the unique product. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
Making moves in silence is Stealth Electric Bikes’ speciality, modernising the humble dirt bike for a range of industries.
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Co-founder John Karambalis and Cohuna farmer Bayden Smith were on the ground at Elmore Field Days, demonstrating the bikes’ capabilities.
Mr Karambalis launched the business in 2008, using motorcycles as his starting point.
“I was designing motorcycles and motorcycle engines,” he said.
“So, I built myself a bike to get to work on, and then it evolved into what it is now.
“We have a number of defence contracts across the world; we export to 35 countries.”
Stealth Electric Bikes have proven popular in fields such as defence, policing, security and farming.
Mr Smith, a fourth-generation cattle farmer, has extensively tested the product.
“I use them to check cattle and irrigation,” he said.
“It’s better than a drone because it’s more fun ... it puts the fun back into farming.
“These allow me to survey my property and cattle in silence and peace, and I still get a bit of a workout.”
A key motivator for farmers like Mr Smith is a feeling of connectedness that comes from using the bikes.
“Rather than hearing an engine, it allows greater depth of connection with the animals and nature,” he said.
“For me, it’s just peaceful to be able to get around my property just as fast, if not faster (than a motorbike).”
Mr Smith (left) has been using the e-bikes for more than eight years, first developed by Mr Karambalis in 2008.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
In conversations with farmers, Mr Karambalis said benefits such as quiet and connection were common in their feedback.
Other advantages he has heard include that it’s lightweight, does not require fuel and has less need for servicing.
“Basically, at the end of the day, you’re pulling into the shed, and you just plug the thing in,” Mr Karambalis said.
“There are a few people that run on off-grid systems.
“The advantage of not having an internal combustion, or a petrol, engine ... you’re not spending hours servicing, changing oil, replacing clutches.”
The e-bikes themselves are made from aircraft-grade materials and have a lifetime warranty.
At the field days, the pair introduced attendees to the bikes, even allowing them to take them for a test-drive.
Mr Karambalis said that electric options could scare some consumers off from embracing the technology.
“(It) comes down to the price you’re paying for things, it’s quality,” he said.
“We’ve had people that wouldn’t even take it for a ride because they go, ‘eh, it’s electric’, but they go for a spin, and they’re like, ‘oh crap, this is awesome’.
“It’s about people being aware of it and trying it out.”
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